The Tour Wild Cards

[Ferminal]

Disdain shouldn't be exclusive to BMC. Sky and Radioshack also propelled themselves into the top echelons through money, power and popularity.

ASO decided to select these teams for what we might like to call "non-road" reasons. Whilst we may disagree with their selections, they are rational decisions. BMC are just the easy target - but they are no more responsible for what has happened than Sky, Radioshack, ASO or the UCI.

 

[craig1985]

I'll be in Rotterdam trying to stick a Vacansoleil flag in Evans' wheel.

If you do, you must take photos or otherwise I would never believe you. But seriously, if there ever was a case for having 8-man Tour teams, this is it.

 

[craig1985]

I'll bet you and AusCF will be the ones doing the whinging, when Evan's season goes tits up.
I'm amazed that you all would rather see him lose in the Tour, than possibly win the best GT out there.

Me? I'm not bothered about the decision in terms of the Tour.
It is of less significance to my season; well behind the Giro.
Why worry if there are 9 or 18 men in red, huddled in the peloton, as the French breakaways get a free hand. (clever ASO didn't want the Dutch messing up their chances)

I'm more concerned that it will effect the competitiveness of the best GT of the year and the fact that both Skil and Vacansoleil are 0 from 2 in wildcard invites, to a bunch of aging one day specialists.

Since when have I ever been a Cadal Evans fanboy?

 

[L'arriviste]

Disdain shouldn't be exclusive to BMC. Sky and Radioshack also propelled themselves into the top echelons through money, power and popularity.

Whilst I agree that there's something to be said about the good and bad influence of money on sport, I don't really see anything wrong with power or popularity.

Cycling needs more financial investment. Whatever we think of Sky as an organisation, it has been backing cycling in the UK for some years now, so we can't really call it short-termism, just as we might want to cut BMC some slack while it develops itself into a European team. That doesn't change my view that Vacansoleil was hard done by - I think the deal made by ASO in 2008 is the issue, though I accept that I might be contradicting my comments above by saying that.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

very disappointing in regards to vasc.
ASO should have at least gave them the ardenees then, Vasc. really did everything right.

 

[Rosaka]

Stop spitting the dummy, you're embarassing yourself. Just read Prudhomme's valid justification and calm down.

I've got the right to have my opinion right? Vacansoleil is way more entertaining to watch then BMC, Vacansoleil deserved to be there. I can spit the dummy all i want.

 

[Ibanez]

apparently skys squad is wiggins, ebh, lofkvist, gerrans, thomas, calzati plus 3 others according to lionel birnie (very good journalist with finger on the pulse). must admit as a brit was quite proud its the first time ill ever see a british team in the tdf, going for a few stages too. i know not all brits are the same but oh well

Hey, Barloworld were UK registered when they came to the tour in 07 you know

Won two stages and KOM as well. Definitely their finest hour. Sky's actual tour team will be as 'British' as HTC are 'American'.

Anyway, I am also disappointed by the snubbing of Vacansoleil but I can see the reasoning behind it. Bigger names at the end of the day.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Since when have I ever been a Cadal Evans fanboy?

Come on Craig, join the club!

I'll be in Rotterdam trying to stick a Vacansoleil flag in Evans' wheel.

I will make the flight to Amsterdam, hunt you down and chop your head off if you do that!

All the people who said bmc wouldn't make it are all now very angry. Sour grapes? especially to you Libertine!

 

[Anonymous]

apparently skys squad is wiggins, ebh, lofkvist, gerrans, thomas, calzati plus 3 others according to lionel birnie (very good journalist with finger on the pulse). must admit as a brit was quite proud its the first time ill ever see a british team in the tdf, going for a few stages too. i know not all brits are the same but oh well

which is actually what teamskyfans site said at the beginning of february.. Lionel Birnie been stealing our ideas i think.

Flecha is probably 90%, Arveson looks a good choice if he is fully recovered which only leaves one spot, maybe two.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I find auscyclefan's excited squealing rather entertaining. Yup, Evans will win two GTs in the season, and if he doesn't, it's because he wasn't given enough support. In fact, Evans will beat Contador by a clean 10 minutes. Just keep telling yourself that, and surely one day it will come true!



PS, I don't understand how having come 2nd in fields that are weaker than this year's will be a tactical advantage to Evans? Are you saying that a guy who's been runner-up twice will fly 'under the radar' and be allowed to gain time? Or that because he was 2nd in weaker fields that he'll suddenly miraculously become better (after riding his guts out for 2nd in the Giro) and win? I seriously don't get it.

PPS, and no matter how sour the grapes, I did point out that I do not want to see Evans underperform like he did in 2009. If they're going to be on the invites list, I'd like to at least see them justifying it in the race itself, otherwise it's a bad decision. I'd like to believe Prudhomme knows what he's doing even if I, and others, may second-guess him.

 

[auscyclefan94]

It's Phonak 2, they're not getting in

Oh really?

Vacansoleil as a whole is a stronger team than BMC. The problem is that BMC has some top tier riders, and Vacansoleil doesn't.

Ok yes vasc have won more so far but lets make a little copmarison...
Evans, hincapie, ballan, kroon, burghardt and Morabito V hoogerland, bozic, B Felliu, R felliu and carrara.

Footon are auto included, they only got kicked last year when the doping blew up their roster.

edit; Susan said it already

And Isso, how are BMC ahead of Vascan? Both Pro-Conti level, one has more wins and has be financial helping the ASO?

They don't want ANOTHER breakaway team. They would be there just to fill the early hours of the sprint stages so I don't fall asleep.

Vacansoleil robbed. By far the most successful of the teams after that final spot.
Boy, haven't the ASO changed their philosophy, since the PT began, even though they hate it!
AusCF will be delighted, but I now see Evans pulling out of the Giro, which he could have possibly won and missing out on a Tour podium.

Definetly doing the giro. No pulling out there. Has said that from the start and said he was confident to get the invite the whole way through so will be doing both.
I sure am delighted!

It's better to just get a big name than to do everything else right for 2 years.

And BMC hasn't?

 

[auscyclefan94]

I find auscyclefan's excited squealing rather entertaining. Yup, Evans will win two GTs in the season, and if he doesn't, it's because he wasn't given enough support. In fact, Evans will beat Contador by a clean 10 minutes. Just keep telling yourself that, and surely one day it will come true!
PS, I don't understand how having come 2nd in fields that are weaker than this year's will be a tactical advantage to Evans? Are you saying that a guy who's been runner-up twice will fly 'under the radar' and be allowed to gain time? Or that because he was 2nd in weaker fields that he'll suddenly miraculously become better (after riding his guts out for 2nd in the Giro) and win? I seriously don't get it.

PPS, and no matter how sour the grapes, I did point out that I do not want to see Evans underperform like he did in 2009. If they're going to be on the invites list, I'd like to at least see them justifying it in the race itself, otherwise it's a bad decision. I'd like to believe Prudhomme knows what he's doing even if I, and others, may second-guess him.

I have replied to your same questions over and over again. I would like to admit you were wrong!

 

[TRDean]

I have replied to your same questions over and over again. I would like to admit you were wrong!

What do you care? Just enjoy that Evans is in both tours...and leave it be. So what...now you get to be disappointed twice this year?

 

[theyoungest]

Ok yes vasc have won more so far but lets make a little copmarison...
Evans, hincapie, ballan, kroon, burghardt and Morabito V hoogerland, bozic, B Felliu, R felliu and carrara.

The current Ballan has the same name and face as his formerly successful self, but that's where the comparison ends. The same goes for Burghardt, to a lesser extent. The point being that the BMC stars are all just big names, without the results to show for it... with the exception of Evans of course.

 

[auscyclefan94]

What do you care? Just enjoy that Evans is in both tours...and leave it be. So what...now you get to be disappointed twice this year?

Surely someone can be man enough to be wrong? Your dissapointed because Skil is not in there so you take it out on me.

We will see about that comment...

 

[Ferminal]

haha, people getting wound up by acf94

 

[auscyclefan94]

The current Ballan has the same name and face as his formerly successful self, but that's where the comparison ends. The same goes for Burghardt, to a lesser extent. The point being that the BMC stars are all just big names, without the results to show for it... with the exception of Evans of course.

So, those guys are having a bit of a from slump.

I know ferminal, isn't it great? they all have to bow down to my superioirty because they were all wrong and thier teams did not get in.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I have replied to your same questions over and over again. I would like to admit you were wrong!

But I never said that BMC wouldn't get into the Tour, just that I thought they shouldn't. There is a difference.

Similarly, there is a difference between 'replied to' and 'answered' a question - and because you never 'answer' them when you 'reply to' them, I'll keep asking. How is being 2nd in a weaker field a tactical advantage in a stronger field?

 

[TRDean]

Surely someone can be man enough to be wrong? Your dissapointed because Skil is not in there so you take it out on me.

We will see about that comment...

Actually, I am disappointed that Skil is not there...but they didn't deserve it with the lack of results..which actually include one more win than BMC currently has.

Not taking it out on you...but I am laughing at you...

 

[auscyclefan94]

But I never said that BMC wouldn't get into the Tour, just that I thought they shouldn't. There is a difference.

Similarly, there is a difference between 'replied to' and 'answered' a question - and because you never 'answer' them when you 'reply to' them, I'll keep asking. How is being 2nd in a weaker field a tactical advantage in a stronger field?

Look at 2008, It was really Evans V Saxo. Evans was ganged up on by Saxo. If you had other teams vying for the win being closer in then it wouldn't make it all against evans but teams vying against a few other teams. Sour grapes, Libertine?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Are the grapes sour? Yea, perhaps they are, but that's not really relevant. I'm not that fussed about Vacansoleil, I just hate the way a whole bunch of characterless corporate monoliths have been given slots (Sky and Shack too) ahead of plucky continental teams. BMC are the easiest to complain about since Sky have been winning things and Shack have Armstrong, and we thought both of them were guaranteed. BMC therefore become the team that get the majority of the abuse and frustrations taken out on them, when in reality they're just one small part of a wholesale move in cycling that I do not support - the big Anglophone corporate teams and their transfer systems turning things into football.

Still, at least BMC are more than a boredom-inducing sprinters' team. I loathe sprinters' teams.

You've done a good job explaining your standpoint on 2008, but Saxo weren't solely concerned about Evans, though he was the big threat of course. I don't see how this will help him gain time in 2010 though. After all, the ganging up on Evans opened up time on everybody in the heads of state bunch, not solely on Evans. I don't think, if Contador or Andy Schleck goes, that Evans doesn't respond because he's being ganged up on, but more because he can't respond instantly to them. I suppose, however, the point is that he won't be being man-marked because there will be too many people to man-mark, and there you have a point. I just don't see where Evans is taking time out of the absolute top candidates.

 

[msjett]

After reading a lot of the comments......

I don't see how anybody could be disappointed if Evans doesn't win tour or do very well at tour, many posters have already decided that he won't, so I guess the rest of us are all stupid not to believe the gospel according to the cycling news forum. And of course BMC don't deserve to be at TDF anyway, so whatever happens, people can justify their comments about that.

Apparently Contador is going to win everything he enters especially the TDF, so I don't see why they bothered inviting 21 other teams to the tour, everyone knows its a waste of time if you have a potential GC rider. And if you have a sprinter in your team, you may as well not go either because of course Cav is going to win all the sprint stages in the TDF...

 

[auscyclefan94]

Are the grapes sour? Yea, perhaps they are, but that's not really relevant. I'm not that fussed about Vacansoleil, I just hate the way a whole bunch of characterless corporate monoliths have been given slots (Sky and Shack too) ahead of plucky continental teams. BMC are the easiest to complain about since Sky have been winning things and Shack have Armstrong, and we thought both of them were guaranteed. BMC therefore become the team that get the majority of the abuse and frustrations taken out on them, when in reality they're just one small part of a wholesale move in cycling that I do not support - the big Anglophone corporate teams and their transfer systems turning things into football.

Still, at least BMC are more than a boredom-inducing sprinters' team. I loathe sprinters' teams.

You've done a good job explaining your standpoint on 2008, but Saxo weren't solely concerned about Evans, though he was the big threat of course. I don't see how this will help him gain time in 2010 though. After all, the ganging up on Evans opened up time on everybody in the heads of state bunch, not solely on Evans. I don't think, if Contador or Andy Schleck goes, that Evans doesn't respond because he's being ganged up on, but more because he can't respond instantly to them. I suppose, however, the point is that he won't be being man-marked because there will be too many people to man-mark, and there you have a point. I just don't see where Evans is taking time out of the absolute top candidates.

hey, lets stop the arguing. It's been decided, I am a happy man so let it be. I think msjett makes some very good points, why should anyone turn up if contador is going to dominate and win the tour easily. I will put my head on the line big time here and say he won't win the tour. just a gut feeling.

 

[Mellow Velo]

So, with this announcement, BMC are now committed to ride Romandie, The Giro, California, The Tour of Switzerland, The Dauphine Libere and The Tour?

At least it will be interesting to see how they tackle this extremely heavy stage race schedule, with all their "big names" coming out of a tough classics Spring.
The rest of the squad is pretty untested.

There'll be some very tired legs by late July.........if not before.

 

[sublimit]

yes it seems Hincapie is going to go through it dragging Evans around all year.
I reckon it is a blunder though omitting Vacansoliel, they would of made the race better no question.

As for Sky they do get a lot of criticism but at least they try to race so i think they will bring something to the race, IE individual stages and i dont think they will over control races like certain other sprinters teams - hopefully.

I would of omitted BMC And Milram because they have nothing.